Coupling.



` Patented Feb. la, |90;` J. L; FAzlsn.

DOUPLING.

rApplcation' led July 13, 1900. Renewed Jan. 2, 1902.)

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Nrrnn STATES LATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. FRAZIER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

COUPLING.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,595, dated February18, 1902.

Application filed July 1S, 1900. Renewed January 2,1902. Serial No.88.030. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. FRAZIEn,-a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope orCable Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to couplers, an d more particularly to thatclass used for making connection between wire ropes or cables, formaking coupling between xnining-ca1s,and for bell-ropes in trainservice. It is also applicable to buggies and other vehicles, as athill-coupling for traces on harness, for hammocks, and as a couplingfor shafting. However, though I may use the coupling for thesepurposes,I desire to state that for rope service of all kinds I attachthe greatest importance to the device. It is invaluable for use on shipshawsers, for hoisting and shipping, or for hoistingbuckets in mineswhere vertical shafts are used, and all kindred Work.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple but effective couplerfor the purposes named and one that will not become separated under anycircumstances While in actual use.

In the drawings herewith presented, Figure lis aside view of myim provedcoupler. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side view of aportion of the device, showing a springcatch therein for lockingpurposes. Fig. lis aperspective view of a second portion adapted toengage with that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top view of the coupler,showing one portion in cross-section to show the locking arrangement.Fig. 6 is a detail view of part of a catch. Fig. 7 is a side view of atongue which engages with said catch. Fig. S is an end view of thelatter.

In the figures, A and B represent two body portions of the coupler, eachhaving at its outer end an eye C for cable or other connection. Theportion A is provided with a dovetailed groove D, cut transverselythrough it, and the portion B carries a tongue L of a correspondingshape,adapted to enter said groove and fit snugly therein thougharranged to be freely withdrawn. The body of the coupler is preferablyround Vin cross-section, and the edges of the tongue are flush with therounded surface, thus presenting a neat appearance and giving a smoothperiphery to move over or through pulleys or small openings.

In Figs. 3 and -l I show the means of locking the body portionstogether. This consists of a plunger or catch seated in the coupling atright angles to the length of the said coupling to move in the directionof its length to engage a notch F in the tongue E. The plunger embodiesa finger-piece d, attached to a stem b, and secured tothe inner end ofthe latter is a disk c, upheld normally by a spring` d, inclosed in arecess c. Said recess is closed by a threaded plugrr f, upon which thesaid spring is seated. The body portion A is bored for the stem b andcounterbored to permit the depression of the finger-piece or button a.The relation of the parts is such that when the upper surface of thebutton a is flush withV the periphery of the body the disk c is withinthe groove D, which the bore e intersects. The catch being locatedmidway the thickness of the body A, and the notch F in the tongue beingmade to correspond, it Will be evident that when the button a isdepressed by the iinger and the tongue slipped to its place said catchwill engage the notch and hold the parts firmly against movement. Thedevice is made so that the parts cannot be locked together withoutdepressing the button a to permit entrance of the tongue; but, as shownin Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the disk c may be beveled and the corners of thetongue at F likewise beveled in order to permit the tongue to slip intoplace by the bevels contacting to push the said disk down instead ofusing the finger to accomplish that end. When in proper register, thedisk will` rise Within the notch F by reason of the spring, as isevident. Either the button a or the disk c must be removably attached tothe stem b in order to permit the entrance of the said stem into itsbore when assembling theparts. The plug f is provided with a slot g forreceiving the bit of a screw-driver; but any other means of securingsaid plug in place other than by screw-threads may be employed. In fact,I do not confine myself to any particular construction as to any part ofmy improved coupler. My idea is to provide a dc- IOO vice of this naturethat can be quickly adjusted and when so adjusted will not becomeseparated while in use, and, furthermore, a device that will have asmooth body, so that there will be no hindrance to the easy passagethereof through a small opening.

While I have mentioned the uses to which my coupling may be put, I donot confine myself to those uses alone, as there are many others towhich it can be equally well adapted.

I claiml. A coupling of the character described composed of twoportions, one having a dovetailed groove, the other a tongue tocorrespond therewith and engage such groove,lock ing means in the sideof the portion having the dovetailed groove, the same being arranged atright angles to the tongue and adapted -to lock with the same by meansof a groove in the end of said tongue whereby the two portions areprevented from separating, as set forth.

2. A coupling of the character described comprising two portions, onehaving agroove, the othera tongue to engage said groove, and aspring-actuated locking means in the grooved portion at right angles tothe tongue, the saine being adapted to engage the latter when the twobodyportions are interlocked and adapted when pressure or a directthrust is applied thereto against its spring to release the tonguewhereby the body portion may be separated substantially as set forth.

3. A coupling for the purpose herein described, consisting of twoportions, one having a groove cut entirely through it, at one end, atongue at one end of the other portion adapted to enter said groove fromeither side and arranged to prevent separation when under stress orstrain longitudinally, and locking means for engaging the tongue topre-V vent movement thereof, in either direction laterally within saidgroove substantially as ,set forth and described.

' the other a tongue to engage said groove, a

notch in the tongue, and a catch in the side of the grooved portion atright angles to the tongue for engaging the notch substantially as setforth and for the purpose described.

5. A coupler for the purposes set forth arranged for attachment tocables, consisting of two body portions, one having a groove, the othera tongue corresponding in form with that of the said groove and adaptedto engage with such groove, a spring-catch in the body portion havingthe groove and a notch in the tongue adapted to be engaged by said catchsubstantially as set forth and for the purposes described.

6. A coupler for the purposes described arranged for attachment tocables and the like, consisting of two body portions, one having agroove therein, the othera tongue or projection to engage with suchgroove, a notch in the tongue, a catch consisting of a fingerpiecehaving a stem, a disk on the opposite end of the stem the same adaptedto engage with the said notch in the tongue and a spring for normallykeeping the disk in engagement with the notch all substantially as setforth and described.

7. A coupling for the purposes set forth consisting of two body portionsA and B, an eye C in the outer end of each, a dovetailed groove D in theportion A, a tongue E on the portion B for engaging such groove, a notchF in said tongue, a catch in the said portion A adapted to move at rightangles to the said tongue and groove, which consists of a stem b havinga button c1, and a disk c at its outer and inner ends respectively, thelatter to enter the groove D and engage the notch F of the tongue E whenthe latter is seated in the groove and a spring for keeping the saidcatch normally raised within the said groove D as set forth and for thepurposes described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. FRAZIER.

Witnesses:

C. JOHNSON, ARTHUR KEITHLEY.

